A street dance party, cross-fit competition, salsa contest, and tug-of-war for charity were added to the Escalante Days and Nights, which will be held Aug. 9-10.
The Dolores festival was expanded to two days, and will still feature the classic chain saw and arm wrestling competitions, mountain bike races, K9 Search and Rescue pancake fundraiser, kid bike event, Central Avenue parade, food and craft vendors, Galloping Goose rides, softball tournament, and more.
“It used to be a two-day festival, so we are bringing that back by adding more physical-fitness type events and a fun dance,” said Dolores Chamber of Commerce Director Susan Lisak.
Visit doloreschamber.com for a schedule, to volunteer, for information, and to sign up for events.
On Friday, from noon to 2 p.m. CrossFit MFR, of Cortez, will host a fitness competition. Teams will be given different exercise routines for multiple rounds, and will be timed. Get ready to lift weights, do sit ups and push ups, jump rope, plus more. There will be prizes for the fastest times.
From 2 to 4 p.m. Friday, regional restaurants will let the community judge their best salsa recipes. So far six restaurants have signed up, and there is room for six more. For $3 anyone can sit down to sample the different salsas then vote on their first, second and third choices. Chips are provided.
“We wanted to promote pride in our local restaurants,” Lisak said.
From 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Central Avenue between Fourth and Fifth streets will be closed for a street dance. All musical genres will be played by a DJ. Song requests can be made at doloreschamber.com website.
“Locals remember fondly when the town used to have street dances, so we are bringing back the tradition,” said Lisak, who said hula hoops will also be available.
For refreshments, the Snaggletooth Bar, serving tap beers and margaritas, will be set up downtown and be open for the dance and all weekend.
The Dolores Mountain Bike Race is Saturday. Categories are 13-mile, 18-mile, 33-mile, and 50-mile. Races start in town and go through the expansive Boggy Draw trails system. There is also a 5K family run. For more information and to register visit www.doloresrace.com
Tug-o-War contest will be 4 p.m. Saturday at Flanders Park. Anyone can participate. Entry is $10 per person and the winning teams will pick a charity to donate the money to, including two local kids in need Nick Lester and Joey Whiting.
Anyone can enter. The event is intended to encourage local businesses, fire districts, neighbors, and city and county governments to compete with each other in good fun. For example, Dolores and Cortez City officials have formed teams and will go head to head. BLM vs. Forest Service?
So far 40 vendors have signed up, and there is room for more.
Other events:
Friday at 5 p.m. is the Kids Bike Parade and instructional bike course. The Dolores Rotary Club will be giving away 100 helmets, and there will be a drawing for at least 10 free bikes of all different sizes.On Friday at 6:45 p.m., the Dolores General Store will host the traditional ice cream eating contest at Flanders Park.Saturday morning at 6 a.m. is the K9 Search and Rescue pancake breakfast fundraiser at the Dolores Fire Department. Full breakfast is just $5.The Four Corners Band will perform at 9 a.m. Saturday at Flanders Park, then the Escalante Days Parade will begin at Dolores Schools at 10 a.m.. The theme this year is “Dolores: A Year Round Playground.”On Saturday at 7 a.m. the softball tournament begins at Joe Rowell Park, and it continues Sunday morning at 7 a.m. The Home Run Derby begins at 9 p.m. Saturday at Joe Rowell Park. For more information, visit the tournament Facebook page.On Saturday at 2 p.m. Dolores River Anglers will offer free casting and fishing demos at Riverside Park.jmimiaga@the-journal.com